Cleveland Pizza Fest 2017 confirms vendors, pizza-eating contest

Cleveland Pizza Fest organizers confirm 10 vendors have committed to this year's fest, which will include a pizza-eating contest.

(Marc Bona, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Pizza Fest in June has 10 confirmed vendors so far with only three undecided, and a pizza-eating contest has been added to the mix, the event's organizer said.

Managing partner Rick Perk said only Pepperoni Cowboy, Pepperoni Nick's and Romeo's have not confirmed attendance. He said he wants to cap the number of vendors at 15.

"They have not said no" but they also have not confirmed participation, Perk said.

Eight vendors were part of the first fest, in 2015, a reincarnation of pizza fests years earlier. Last year there were 14 vendors. Pizza 216 and Angelo's of Cleveland, which participated in 2015 but skipped last year, are returning, he said.

Confirmed vendors

* Angelo's, Lakewood.

* Augie's Pizza.

* Lorenzo's wood-fired, Oberlin.

* Jet's Pizza (multiple locations).

* Mama Julianne's, Strongsville.

* PizzaBOGO (multiple locations).

* Primoz Pizza, Cleveland.

* Royal Pizza, Parma Heights.

* Sauced Wood Burning Fire (Fairview Park).

* Scott's Fire & Ice (wood-burning).

Perk said he encourages vendors to sell "sample-sized slices."

"My idea of sample sizes and theirs are different," he said. "I encourage 16-inch cut into 12 or 12-inch cut into eight. Most of the vendors adhere to that."

Perk said he's looking forward to the event, which is Friday-Sunday, June 23-25, at Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. Attendees can vote for best pizzas in several categories, ranging from sauce to toppings.

"It's a fun event, and last year we did have really good weather," he said. "And it helps bring some exposure to our non-profits."

Temperatures topped out the first day of the fest last year in the high 70s, moved to the 80s for the second day and hit 91 on the finale.

Beneficiary of some of the proceeds will be the North End Foundation (Berea Youth Works), which aims to keep kids and teens "on the right path," Perk said.

To that end, a pizza-eating contest Saturday afternoon will cost $10 to enter. Funds go to the charity.